His Steadfast Love Endures Forever (Psalm 132-138)
Love, it’s all around us yet the fruits of it are not always seen. We have the love of a Heavenly Father who cares for us, and yet our lives don’t always reflect that we are in receipt of such a gift. His steadfast love endures forever, should not our temporal lives reflect this truth?
The phrase “His steadfast love endures forever” is repeated once for every verse in Psalm 136. If it is repeated 26 times, let’s take heed of it’s importance and learn what it means!
all is lost
It’s never too late to start….
Download your first two weeks free by signing up below (or buy Book One of the Family Bible Plan)!
Steadfast love…
Steadfast is one of the most comprehensive descriptors of God. When paired with love, it explodes with meaning and power.
BUT, you may be surprised to find out that the root word used here translates into ‘mercy’, not steadfast love.
2617. chesed.
kindness… – favour, good deed, kindly, kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity.
A masculine noun indicating kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, love, acts of kindness.
Strong’s Concordance, paraphrased in part
What makes some translations use the word steadfast? The eternal aspect. God never changes,
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
His Mercy never changes…
Now, a better understanding of mercy will help us understand the translation into ‘steadfast love’.
This aspect of God is one of several important features of His character: truth; faithfulness; mercy; steadfastness; justice; righteousness; goodness. The classic text for understanding the significance of this word is Psalm 136 where it is used twenty-six times to proclaim that God’s kindness is eternal. The [P]salmist made it clear that God’s kindness and faithfulness serves as the foundation for His actions and His character:
– it underlies His goodness (v. 1);
– it supports His unchallenged position as God and Lord (vv. 2-3);
– it is the basis for His great and wondrous acts in creation (vv. 4-9);
– delivering and redeeming His people from Pharaoh and the Red Sea (vv. 10-15);
– the reason for His guidance in the desert (v. 16);
– His gift of the land to Israel and defeat of their enemies (vv. 17-22);
– His ancient as well as His continuing deliverance of His people (vv. 23-25); and
– His rulership in [H]eaven (v. 26).The entire span of creation to God’s redemption, preservation, and permanent establishment is touched upon in this [P]salm. It all happened, is happening, and will continue to happen because of the Lord’s covenant faithfulness and kindness.
Strong’s Concordance, paraphrased in part
The connection…
There is a strong connection between the definition of mercy and steadfast love, but one that can be easily forgotten.
The Psalmist provides for us a list of tangible memories and truths that the Israelites were told to never forget. The reason they were to remind themselves was to remember the ultimate and greater purpose behind them: that His love endures forever. ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above’, it is of no coincidence that these events happened… but we (like the Israelites) need to remember the purpose behind the story.
If we read the Bible as though it's merely an assignment to check off, it's power is lost on us. When you read it to see Him in every story, it is overwhelmingly magnificent! Share on XIf we read the Bible as though it’s merely an assignment to check off, it’s power is lost on us. When you read it to see Him in every story, it is overwhelmingly magnificent!
Connection between Psalms…
Did you catch the similarities in Psalms 135 and 136?
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to His name, for it is pleasant!
Psalm 135:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
Psalm 135:5
Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:2-3
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in Heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Psalm 135:6
[T]o Him who by understanding made the heavens, for His steadfast love endures forever; to Him who spread out the earth above the waters, for His steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:5-6
He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants[?]
Psalm 135:8-9
[T]o Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for His steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for His steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for His steadfast love endures forever; to Him who divided the Red Sea in two, for His steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for His steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for His steadfast love endures forever[.]
Psalm 136:10-15
But wait, there’s even more connections…
[W]ho struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to His people Israel.
Psalm 135:10-12
[T]o him who struck down great kings, for His steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for His steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for His steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for His steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage, for His steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel His servant, for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:17-22
For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on His servants.
Psalm 135:14
It is He who remembered us in our low estate, for His steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for His steadfast love endures forever; He who gives food to all flesh, for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:23-25
Blessed be the Lord from Zion, He who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 135:21
Give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:26
These chapters are similar and put next to each other for a reason. One is to call us to praise Him for His love in the past, the other is to reiterate that this same love offered before is offered for eternity.
A motto that should hold fast to every area in our lives… why not grab a daily reminder to boast of Our King!
The following Psalm…
The very next Psalm shows the devastation of the exiled Israelites as their joy had been diminished.
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!
Psalm 137:6
To put it one way, their trials reminded them to remember! The Psalms were often songs or liturgies which made them easier to remember. Here, they were commanded to sing by their oppressors, but did not want to sing the songs of their God on a Babylonian stage.
Deeper connections…
Keep going on to Psalm 138, and we see a call to praise God again! Since this Psalm was written by David, it means it happened before Psalm 137. The placement of it in the Bible is for those reading. We are taken on a journey, with the pieces of time put in front of us in story format to present a message.
- Psalm 135 – Remember God’s mercies in the past
- Psalm 136 – Remember that same love is present now and through eternity
- Psalm 137 – Remember that kindness from the past during trials
- Psalm 138 – Praise Him always for his steadfast mercies
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Psalm 138:8
These same connections between chapters also points us to a deeper connection for the Bible as a whole. It is to be looked at in whole, reading through the Bible will transform your life because you will have read what God wanted to communicate to you, His Word!
Last Week
Anchored Truth Tuesdays
~It is appreciated but not required that you follow my social media accounts
~A new Anchored Abode podcast (iTunes) has been started, and I would love for subscribers and positive reviews (SoundCloud)
~I do ask that you use the Anchored Truth Tuesdays logo above on your site somewhere or on the post itself; if you click on the picture above a new window will open with html instructions
~ Family friendly posts only (I reserve the right to delete any that are deemed inappropriate); with a direct link to a specific blog post
~It is appreciated if you spread the blogging love to those around you in the Anchored community by visiting their sites, following them, or liking/sharing posts
~We have a Pinterest group board, Anchored Truth Tuesdays, where all who link up are welcome to also upload their content–you’ll just need to like Anchored Abode first, and then request to join
~By submitting a link, you are agreeing to be added to our email list as well as allowing the use of pictures/content as featured posts on our social media accounts
2 thoughts on “His Steadfast Love Endures Forever (Psalm 132-138)”